This year saw the highest number of births ever recorded in Australia, says Mark, around 300,000 births.

The post-war baby boom peaked in the 1960s, he adds, at about 260,000 births.

In 2001, Australia hit its lowest birth rate ever, he notes. "Like most developed countries, people thought that our birth rate would continue to fall."

There are several reasons that may have contributed to the jump, apart from the obvious, says Mark, the first of which is the baby bonus which was introduced in 2002.

"In that same year, the rate began to increase."

The nation has also experienced stable economic times for a decade, Mark points out. "Families are doing OK."

Another reason Mark sees is the changing rhetoric around family size as the population ages. "I think when there's a social discussion away from overpopulation, towards having one for the country and one for Mum and one for Dad and that's a good thing - that's also added to increase.

"We'll hit 23 million in 2013. I guess that will get people talking about numbers once again."

The rate of increase is also climbing, says Mark and now stands at about 1.6 per cent per annum population growth. By comparison, the world average is 1.1 per cent.

"Even a country like India is growing at 1.4 per cent."

Technology

Mark sees a shift in the way people use technology and social media.

It will continue to grow and mature, he says, pointing out that tablets have only been around for about two years and smart phones five while websites like Instagram and Pinterest didn't take off till last year.

Yet while interaction with the and social networking space is yet to mature, Mark sees a change in attitude with people beginning to question whether the value of online relationships.

"There's a shift into using the technology to create real world catch ups," he says. "Meetup was probably the big website of 2012.

"People used the technology to find people to connect with, to join a reading group or find a walking group or just a discussion or travel group.

"That's increasingly how social media sites are being used; to facilitate our real world offline relationships rather than just have everything done in the digital space.

The technology will be used to strengthen communities and relationships rather than be a replacement of those traditional connections, Mark believes.

Gen Z

The children of Gen X will turn 18 in 2013.

Born after 1995, Gen Z are n some ways they are more conservative than Gen Y, says Mark.

The latter cohort were seen as lacking a work ethic or loyalty to an employer. Gen Z have been shaped by more traditional parenting, he says.

"The global financial crisis has impacted them right at the time they're finishing studies and thinking about uni.

Gen Z will be a large generation - almost one in five of the population - at it peak, says Mark and will be more conservative, he predicts, returning to the attitudes of previous generations.

"That sometimes happens in times of austerity, where the work ethic and the commitment and getting a career and sticking with it becomes more the norm.

"That's probably what we will see with Gen Z."

Elections, politics and voting

"We're picking up a national cynicism in the mood at the moment," says Mark, noting that the mood infects all sides of politics.

"People are asking how much difference it makes at a federal level in terms of impacting our lives locally."

This trend dovetails with the resurgence of local community and the use of technology to connect and make a difference.

"In some ways, we're seeing that in the political sense as well... People are getting together to make a difference to themselves and their families, whether it be charities or service clubs that they support."

The trend, says Mark is about being more involved locally "rather than being thinking a vote every few years is going to make a difference.

"I think that it has been bitter and caustic time with Federal politics with an electorate that's tuning out."